Hanoi is a unique city dominated by French colonial architecture with
tree-lined boulevards, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. Recommended places
to visit include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Fine Arts Museum
and Temple of Literature and the Lake of the Restored Sword and the Old Quarter
of Vietnam's capital. Additionally the Museum of Ethnology and a traditional
Vietnamese water puppet show in the evening at Thang Long Theatre are very
enjoyable.

Tao Dan Park a strong and youthful life force, and make it a fresh and
peaceful space in the heart of the city. Open markets include Ben Thanh Market,
the most famous in HCM City. Others are Binh Tay Market and An Dong Market but
be sure to haggle when making a purchase.

In the Far South (Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong Delta or
Nam Bo), it's pretty much warm year-round but the Dec. -Jan, low can be down to
around 60 deg.F (15 deg. C). The high temp., however, rarely gets above 90 deg.
F (35 deg. C). The dry season begins in Nov. and lasting through April. The
rainy season is from May through October.

Winter: December - April Average temperature 22-33C Average rainfall
25mm.

The far North (Bac Bo) resembles the four seasons we are familiar with
in the temperate world. The low temp. in the winter (Jan.-Feb.) can go down to
about 35-40 deg. F. (2 to 5 deg. C) but in the summer, it can get to as high as
105 deg. F (40 deg. C). The winter is the dry season while the summer is the
wet one.

The Vietnam climate allows for light travelling particularly as any
necessary clothing can be bought locally and cheaply. As Vietnam stretches some
1000 miles (1,600 km) so the temperature and rainfall varies from north to
south and from lowland to highland.

Summer: May - November Average temperature 24-31C Average rainfall
265mm.

Ho Chi Minh is famous for its shopping. Dong Khoi and Luu Van Lang, a
small street on the side of Ben Thanh Market decorated with ornamental trees
and special lighting systems, being very popular for fashionable clothes and
footwear. These connect with Nguyen Trung Truc Street and Phan Boi Chau Street
where if you can't find what you want you probably don't need it.

Traveling to Halong Bay, takes approximately 3 1/2 hours by road (170
km) from Hanoi. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as is Hoi An. Halong Bay, in
the South China Sea, is made up of 1969 islands and islets rising from the blue
water on the area of 15,000 sq. km.

While visiting Finca Fantastica Travel for more ideas you can get more
information on Taking A Journey Through Vietnam ... 8 Days from Hanoi to Ho Chi
Minh City and how you can experience this stunning country and its charming peoples.

Summer: May - October Average temperature 23-24C Average rainfall
210mm.

Visiting Vietnam offers travellers a rich and varied cultural history,
combined with the charm of a country which is still largely rural, the
exceptions being Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Its tourist industry has developed to
the extent that accommodation of excellent quality is available at popular
destinations.

Winter: November - April Average temperature 17-23C Average rainfall
95mm.

The foods of Vietnam vary from the north through the central region to
the south, all with their own distinct regional variations. The common bond is
the use of rice or noodles. Whether your choice is for vegetarian, multiple
dishes, contrasting flavors, varied textures and exotic ingredients Vietnamese
cooking offers a wide selection to satisfy the most discerning visitors, To
name but a few traditional favourites, Cha Ca, Banh Chay, Banh Troi, Nem Ran
(spring roll but called cha gio in the south) and Pho Bo, a traditional beef
soup and Gio Lua which is found at its best in the north.

Ho Chi Minh City in south Vietnam lies on the Saigon River north of
the Mekong River delta. The former French colonial city, home to over 5
million, is a bustling modern metropolis where travellers enjoy the historic sites
and architecture and marvel at the intricacies of local Vietnamese handicraft.

Other places of interest include the City Museum with its secret
tunnel under Gia Long Palace. A boat trip on the Megong Delta is surely a must
before enjoying the wonderful restaurants, bars, coffee shops and clubs
particularly centered around District 1.

Remains hot and humid, although humidity levels are more bearable
between December and February. During April and May the southwest monsoon winds
bring rain showers to the Mekong Delta and southern Vietnam.

Hot, humid and rainy but heavy downpours are usually short lived.

The bay is quite spectacular because of its craggy islands, islets,
the mists and the sun. It is extraordinary in shape, size and colour and rich
vegetation. There are many beautiful caves and stunning beaches to explore in
the summer and autumn. The islands are said to be where the dragons descended
into the sea when Vietnam was defending itself from Chinese invasion.

Highlands Winter temperatures can fall slightly below the average and
rainfall is higher than at lower elevations. However, most rain tends to fall
during the summer months when it can be very wet - although these summer months
do provide a respite from the often intense heat of other areas. The exception
is on the Central Highland (Kontum down to Lam Dong) where it's cool year-round
(temp. from 55 to 65 deg. F (13 to 18 deg. C), with moderate rainfall.

Tourism in modern Vietnam is enjoying a boom time. As safety for
tourists to Vietnam no longer presents great concern, this beautiful country
can be explored from north to south, from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon).

Lowlands Summer - the weather is warm and reasonably dry from May to
September. The monsoon winds then change bringing above average rain during
late September. This time is not ideal as rain can be fairly constant -
flooding and, in extreme cases, typhoons are also a possibility.

Central Vietnam - Lowlands and Highlands: Dalat, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An,
Nha Trang The weather is fairly similar across both, although the highlands
tend to be slightly cooler with higher rainfall as the majority of rain
normally falls on the mountains before arriving at the low coastal areas.